"You see the best of people, the best of generosity," said Sheriff Dean Roland.

"They never gave up and without them it would not have happened," said the sheriff after the search team found 25-year-old Keith Kennedy along a creek just west of the Trade Lake Camp Sunday night.

It was exactly a week since Kennedy disappeared and the search began for the autistic man who takes medicine for a kidney transplant he had several years ago.

All week long Cindi Throngard worked as the public relations director, sending out news releases to keep the volunteers coming in.

The Grantsburg School Community Education director was quick to put thanks in the proper perspective. "Thanks to the community members, the rescue people, everyone in this area. It has been an unbelieveable week," she said.

Burnett County Emergency Director Bobbi Sichta was on the scene and remarked as to how everything was in place for this search, said Throngard.

"The Salvation Army came, and people have been bringing things in and it's been such an awesome time," said Throngard.

Corey Krautkramer, an officer with the Polk County Sheriff's Department was in the group that found Kennedy.

"I helped carry him out for awhile," said Krautkramer. "It was amazing," he said.

He'd been in the field most of the week. "It was unexplainable," he said about finding Kennedy. "That was what we were hoping for. He was very, very weak," he added.

"I was out there just looking for him and I had meals and bug spray and there were times when I struggled. He is a very tough individual and we were very lucky to find him," said Krautkramer.

He was found near Canute Creek and Krautkramer said the guys who actually found him said he was in a clearing.

"This was only my second week on the job so this is my training," he laughed.

"The volunteers, those willing to do what they could, was amazing," he said.

Burnett County Chief Deputy Don Taylor, who was on the scene when Kennedy was found said, "It was getting close (to the end) with no leads and we'd covered all the ground."

But he said "Dogs had an indication on the west side of Canute Creek across the road from the camp," said Taylor.

"It was 6 o'clock and we were just about at the end of our search when we found him," he said.

"We were all pretty close. It was great. There is no better feeling than when you can help somebody," said the chief deputy.

"It was sweet, that's what it was," added Taylor.

DNR Warden Chris Spaight said, "It doesn't get any better than this."

"We were winding down and were going along the creek. There were about 50 of us in line and we heard a voice, "We found him.'"

He said it took a team effort to get him out.

Burnett County Deputy Ron Wilhelm was one of the officers on the final sweep that discovered Kennedy.

"It was unreal. It was probably the happiest moment any of us have ever had. I found out I have a vertical because I did jump," he laughed.

"To find him alive was just incredible. I told the family I was not going to quit until we came out with him and was not going to give up. Thank God we found him," said Officer Wilhelm.

"This was the last group going out."

"We did a very systematic, shoulder-to-shoulder search and everybody followed the plan and right at the tail end was when we found him."

He said the adrenaline everyone had allowed them to carry him to the helicopter, where Wilhelm got to see the reunion between Kennedy and his parents.

"It was awesome. I'd been with the parents through this ordeal and that moment, sharing with them, brought tears to my eyes to talk to them and hug them."

He said, "I was so thankful that we were able to find him alive out there."

He added, "I'm glad we stayed with it and came to a satisfactory conclusion."